Combination trunk and table



J. NIERODKA.

COMBINATION TRUNK AND TABLE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. ms.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

11 I INVENTOR.

a Jan ,N/er'od/ra I ym $2M 1E5 A TTORNEY.

UNITED STATES JAN Ninnonm, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

"COMBINATION TRUNK AND TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed October 29, 1919. Serial No. 334,234.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAN NIERODKA, a citizen of Poland, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have 1nvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Combination Trunks and Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination table and chest and it has for an object to provide a simple form of device which may be used as a. container for tools or other objects when desired, or may be set up as a table suitable for useas a work-table or for other purposes.

A further object is to provide animproved arrangement of parts whereby the table legs may be easily extended when desired or folded into the corners of the chest.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages there of, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the device extended to form a table.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it arranged as a chest.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary section through one of the ends thereof, showing the manner in which the legs are folded inwardly.-

As here shown my improved combination table and chest comprises a pair of chest halves consisting of the main panels 1 and 2 which form the side walls of the chest as in Fig. 2 and the top of the table as in Fig. 1, these panels being surrounded by the flanges or walls 3 and 4: which project inwardly to meet one another as in Fig. 2 to complete the chest structure and project downwardly from, and stiffen, the table top as in Fig. 1. The contacting edges of the flanges 3 and 4 on due side of the chest. are hinged to one another as indicated at 5, while the flanges on the opposite side are adapted to be detachably fastened together by a catch of ordinary construction comprising the sliding bolt 6 carried in an eye 7 on one chest-half and adapted to engage in an eye 8 on the other chest-half.

The legs which are provided to support the device when in use as a table are indicated by the reference numeral 10 and are each hinged as indicated at 11 to their respective panel members at the corners thereof adjacent the sides removed from the hinges 5 which secure the two chest-halves together. Secured to the underside of each panel member adjacent each leg is a quadrantal arm 12which is curved concentrically to the axis of the hinge of the latter and projects through a transverse slot 13 in the leg. Fixed at one end on each leg as at 14: is a flat spring 15 which projects into the slot along the .top wall thereof and is provided with a bowed portion 16 adapted to yieldingly engage in either one of a pair of V-shaped notches 17 and 18 formed in the inner edge of the arm 12. These notches are so positioned that the spring .16 engages in notch 17 when the legs are extended as in Fig. 1, and in notch 18 when the legs are swung up close to the panels as indicated in- Fig. 3. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the leg 10 and arms 12 lie entirely within the vertical confines of the flanges 3 and .Lwhen the legs are folded, and do not interfere in any way with the closing of the two halves together. The parts are also positioned that when the legs are extended they will bebraced at the ends of the table by the vertical flanges.

As will be apparent the device may be readily changed from a chest to a table by simply swinging the legs to the desired pos1- tions, the spring 15 engaging in the notches 17 and 18 with suflicient strength to hold the legs in position during ordinary usage but springing out therefrom when extra pressure is applied to the legs to swing them from one position to the other, the legs when in their folded position occupying only a small portion of space in the corner of the chest.

My improved combination chest and table may be used in a wide variety of ways in addition to use as a tool-chest, the convenience of a handy table on which to place food, cards, or other articles being apparent.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows- A supporting member for the slotted and hinged legs of bi-partite chests and tables comprising a quadrantal arm having two V-shaped notches and projecting through a transversal slot in the leg, curved concentrically to the axis of the'leg hinges, a flat spring secured to one end of each leg, a legs are in their position of rest, substanbowed portion' in said spring adapted to tially as described and for the purpose set yieldingly engage in either of the V-shaped forth.

notches of said arm, said notchesbeing so In testimony whereof I have afiixed my positioned that one is engaged by said spring signature. when the legs are in operative position and the other is engaged by said spring when the i Q J AN NIERODKA. v 

